The Sanctuary to the Mystic

This sanctuary, for the local fishing community of Rhode Island is designed to be a multi-faith center for the people who live this common lifestyle. The project focuses on three important relationships in the life of these people. The first beginning that relationship with the stars in the night sky. The constellation of the “Big Dipper” has been created with holes in the concrete ceiling. The second is the majestic qualities found when beams of sunlight cut though the clouds. This is achieved with a complex collection of windows at the focus of the main space. The final and most important is the notion that faith exist “Between Realms” for the people of this lifestyle. It exists between the danger at sea, and the safety of home. The understanding of this relationship is accomplished by allowing the ocean tides to enter the sanctuary in order to create a focus to the dialog between the land and water.